Manchester United will be facing Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at Old Trafford with one eye on the tie's second leg at the Emirates Stadium. Despite the supposed home advantage, the competition holders are keen not to concede at home, even if this will come at the expense of their attacking efficiency. "It's an untypical semi-final because it is two English teams but the principles are the same," United boss Alex Ferguson says. "We need to win without losing a goal, I can put it that way, and I would be delighted to win the game 1-0. I would like to take that to the Emirates Stadium." On the other side, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that playing at Old Trafford will not mean that his team will adopt a defensive approach. "We will be faithful to the game we play. We go, like we go everywhere in Europe, to score a goal or win the game," Wenger said "If you go to Old Trafford without belief, you make it very difficult from the start for yourselves. We'll go there with belief, with desire and with enjoyment as well." Unlike United, who have a near fully fit squad for the tie, Arsenal have Gael Clichy and Robin van Persie out with Injuries.
Ex-United defender Mikael Silvestre is doubtful for the game after the Frenchman was taken off against Middlesbrough on the weekend due to a back spasm. Rivalry The tie will witness a new phase of the 13-year long rivalry between Ferguson and Wenger. Since taking over Arsenal in 1995, Wenger was never safe from Ferguson's occasional vigorous attacks. Intensity of competition between the two teams in the Premiership played a large part in creating a void between the two managers. "They say he's an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I've got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages," Fergie said about Wenger in 1996. The Scot was never ashamed to say what he thinks of Wenger's coaching abilities "He's a novice - he should keep his opinions to Japanese football." In return, sometimes Ferguson's comments got the best out of the – usually calm – Wenger. "I'm ready to take the blame for all the problems of English football if that is what he wants," the former Monaco coach once responded to a Ferguson comment.
